Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

Why couples in Aruba could marry without waiting for a new law

The Dutch Supreme Court upheld a ruling opening civil marriage in Aruba to same-sex couples. The note explains why the remedy applied there immediately.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

A family waiting for reunification kept its enforceable decision deadline

The Dutch Council of State upheld a decision timetable and a daily penalty for a delayed family-reunification application involving a mother and three children.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

Too ill to work during pregnancy. Did those weeks count for unemployment benefit?

A Gelderland court required pregnancy-related illness to count towards a worker’s qualifying weeks. UWV had to decide the remaining benefit conditions.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

What a Dutch court ordered for people living on Bonaire

The Hague District Court ordered binding emissions targets and a Bonaire adaptation plan. Read what the decision meant for island residents and what was appealed.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

Two Iranian asylum refusals had to be decided again

The Dutch Council of State upheld orders for two new asylum decisions because the evidence on risks for apostates and atheists in Iran required more investigation.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

Could a college count maternity leave against a teacher’s days off?

The Dutch Supreme Court found that a college agreement discriminated when a teacher lost non-working days that coincided with maternity leave.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

May officers use ethnicity when deciding which traveller to stop?

The Hague Court of Appeal prohibited the use of race or ethnicity in selecting travellers for the mobile immigration checks examined in the case.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

Why Dutch delivery riders could be employees despite a substitution clause

The Dutch Supreme Court upheld the finding that Deliveroo riders worked under employment contracts and explained how practical freedom must be weighed.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

Could authorities combine personal records to flag suspected benefit fraud?

The Hague District Court found that the safeguards governing the Dutch SyRI risk system failed to protect private life under Article 8 of the Convention.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26 Sandor-Laszlo Pal 11/2/26

When the rights to life and home require climate action

In Urgenda the Dutch Supreme Court upheld a minimum emissions reduction. Read why the court could set a floor while the state chose how to meet it.

European advocacy practice

Equal before
the law.

We help people challenge decisions that shape their lives and businesses resolve disputes across borders.

From our case journals

The rule of law in practice.

Scotland Equality

Equal access to work

After a road sweeper became disabled, could the council require her to compete for another job? The House of Lords sent her case back so the tribunal could consider a transfer as a reasonable adjustment.

Archibald v Fife Council

The Netherlands Fair hearing

Hearing the witness

Two men were acquitted, then convicted on appeal. The appeal court relied on a decisive witness it never heard. Strasbourg found a violation of their right to a fair trial.

Brunell and McArdle v the Netherlands

Belgium Accountability

Making an order count

Four people seeking asylum won court orders for shelter but spent months on the street. Strasbourg held Belgium responsible for their degrading living conditions and for the delay in enforcing those orders.

M.V. and Others v Belgium

Consultation languages

Clarity in your language.

English is our primary consultation language.

Individual services

Find help with your case.

Choose the issue that brought you here. Each guide explains what to prepare and how to take the next step.

01 / For individuals

ECHR Representation

Assessment of Convention rights, domestic remedies, admissibility and the preparation needed for a Strasbourg application.

Explore ECHR support

02 / For individuals

UK Civil Representation

Civil claims, contractual disagreements, evidence preparation and a defined route to representation in England and Wales.

Explore civil representation

03 / For individuals

UK Employment Representation

Workplace disputes, dismissal, discrimination and unpaid wages, with attention to evidence, deadlines and tribunal preparation.

Explore employment support

04 / For individuals

General Legal Advice

A structured one-hour conversation to understand your circumstances, relevant jurisdiction and possible next steps.

Explore general advice

Challenging a public decision?

Start with the letter or notice, the date you received it and the public body responsible. Our judicial review guide explains what to bring to an initial discussion.

Judicial review & public-law concerns →

Private clients

Planning across borders.

05 / Tax optimisation

Cross-border tax planning

Residence, reporting, double-taxation questions and the legal implications of cross-border structures. Begin with the facts, then define the work with qualified advisers in the relevant jurisdictions.

Explore cross-border tax planning ↗

06 / Wealth Management · Legal support

Wealth management legal support

Legal support for asset ownership, succession and cross-border structuring, coordinated with your tax and financial advisers. This service covers legal support and coordination; it does not provide investment advice or portfolio management.

Explore wealth-related legal support ↗

A dedicated hour for your matter

Book your individual consultation.

UK £150 · EU general legal advice €150 · 60 minutes · Online or telephone

View Available Appointments ↗

Founder / We Defend EU – Diaspora

Sandor-Laszlo Pal

From a public decision affecting a family to a contract dispute between companies, his work begins with the facts, the evidence and the jurisdiction.

Practice leadership: Since February 2017
Consultation languages: English, Romanian, Hungarian and Italian

Explore the approach

Sandor-Laszlo Pal · We Defend EU – Diaspora

Professional approach

A structured approach
to complex matters.

Seven years of procedural drafting inform a practice centred on clear questions, organised evidence and defined responsibilities.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal is the founder of We Defend EU – Diaspora and has led the practice since February 2017. He works across research, drafting and case preparation, with attention to the legal systems and commercial or personal circumstances involved. The starting point is to establish the objective, the relevant jurisdictions, the available material and the work that can properly be undertaken.

For businesses and instructing firms, assignments may include pre-arbitration assessment, contract risk review, tribunal drafting, mediation preparation and coordinated workstreams. Deliverables, review responsibilities, timetable and fees are agreed before substantive work begins.

Where a matter requires local-law advice, court representation or another specialist role, the appropriate professional, authorisation and scope are confirmed for that engagement.

Primary consultation language: English.
Also available: Romanian, Hungarian and Italian.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal on LinkedIn

Professional approach

Define the question.
Make the next step reviewable.

01 / PREPARATION

Evidence before assumptions.

Organise the chronology, contract and relevant material. Identify gaps and uncertainties that may affect the recommendation.

02 / PROPORTIONALITY

A practical scope.

Match the assignment to the decision, the resources available and the relevant procedural stage.

03 / ACCOUNTABILITY

Clear responsibilities.

Agree the deliverables, timetable, review process and fees. Additional work follows a separate scope decision.

For individuals

European civil rights
& diaspora support.

Explore the practice’s work with individuals, from human-rights concerns to employment, civil and public-law matters.

Explore individual support

For businesses

Commercial disputes
& arbitration.

Review the commercial division’s defined services for companies, in-house teams and instructing firms.

Explore commercial services

For individuals / UK, Europe and the diaspora

Your rights matter.
So does your next step.

If a decision affects your work, your family or your life abroad, start with what happened. We can help you put the events in order and understand which options are open to you.

Book an individual consultation Explore areas of support

Consultation languages

Clarity in your language.

English is our primary consultation language.

People before processes

A voice for the issues
that shape your life.

You may be facing a difficult decision, a dispute or a system that feels unfamiliar. Start by telling us what has happened and what matters most to you.

We support European citizens and diaspora communities with an initial assessment of rights, evidence, relevant jurisdictions and possible next steps. Any further work is clearly scoped, with responsibilities and fees agreed before it begins.

Online consultations welcome enquiries from the UK, Europe and abroad. The location of your matter determines the legal framework and professional assistance required.

Watch / An introduction

Clarity begins with a conversation.

Our approach to individual-client support, in one minute.

Our introduction film is available here. You can also go directly to booking.

English narration and captions. Illustrative imagery; no depicted premises or proceedings belong to the firm.

Read the introduction transcript

Your rights matter. So does your next step. When a legal problem affects your work, your family or your life across borders, a clear conversation can help you understand the way forward.

We Defend EU – Diaspora supports individuals with human rights concerns, civil and employment disputes, and questions involving more than one country. We begin with your circumstances, the relevant documents and any urgent deadlines.

Consultations are available in English, Romanian, Hungarian and Italian, online or by telephone. Choose a one-hour consultation through our live calendar. Further work is agreed separately, with a defined scope and fees.

We Defend EU – Diaspora. A considered approach. A voice for your next step.

Explore your area of support

Different circumstances.
Focused legal attention.

ECHR Representation

Assessment of Convention rights, domestic remedies, admissibility and the preparation needed for a Strasbourg application.

Explore this service

UK Civil Representation

Civil claims, contractual disagreements, evidence preparation and a defined route to representation in England and Wales.

Explore this service

UK Employment Representation

Workplace disputes, dismissal, discrimination and unpaid wages, with attention to evidence, deadlines and tribunal preparation.

Explore this service

General Legal Advice

A structured one-hour conversation to understand your circumstances, relevant jurisdiction and possible next steps.

Explore this service

Judicial Review & Public Law

Challenges to public decisions, procedural fairness and alleged misuse of public power, with careful attention to urgency.

Explore this service

Cross-Border Tax Planning

Lawful tax planning, residence and reporting questions, legal structuring and coordination with qualified tax advisers.

Explore this service

Wealth Management Legal Support

Legal support for asset ownership, succession and cross-border structuring, coordinated with your existing advisers.

Explore this service

Deportation & removal concerns

When the decision is urgent.

Tell us which country is involved, the date of the decision and any hearing or removal date. We can discuss the information needed for an initial assessment and the appropriate professional support. If a deadline or immediate risk is close, seek urgent assistance rather than waiting for a routine booking.

Contact the practice →

International mediation

Consider a route to agreement.

Where a personal dispute crosses borders, a negotiated process may deserve consideration. We discuss the parties, the countries involved and willingness to participate. The mediator, legal advice, process and fees are agreed separately; a consultation does not commit anyone to a settlement.

Discuss your options →

A clear starting point

From your first question
to an informed next step.

Choose your consultation

Select the UK or EU service, an available time and your preferred language. Pay securely during booking.

Bring the essentials

Prepare a timeline, key documents, the countries involved and any deadline. Explain what you need to achieve.

Agree what follows

Discuss the initial position and possible routes. Any further review, drafting or representation is agreed separately.

Watch / Prepare for your appointment

Make your hour count.

A short guide to the facts, dates and documents that help make the first conversation useful.

Prepare a timeline, key documents and your questions before the appointment.

Read the preparation transcript

Make your consultation count. First, write a short timeline of what happened, including important dates and any court or tribunal deadline. Second, identify the countries involved and gather the key decisions, contracts or correspondence. Third, decide what you most need to understand or achieve.

Book your one-hour appointment on our website and select your preferred language. The consultation helps assess your position and possible next steps. Any representation or further work requires a separate agreement. If a deadline is imminent, seek urgent assistance rather than waiting for an available appointment.

Your next step

You do not have to work out
the route alone.

Start with the facts, your questions and a dedicated hour.

Book an Individual Consultation

Enquiring for a company or legal team? Request a commercial assessment.

Contact the practice

Start in the right place.

For individuals

Book a consultation.

Choose a live appointment time and pay when booking. UK clients: £150 for 60 minutes. EU general legal advice: €150 for 60 minutes.

Telephone or Zoom, with Zoom links arranged separately. Consultations are primarily in English, with Romanian, Hungarian and Italian also available.

Book a Consultation

For businesses and law firms

Request an assessment.

Send a concise commercial overview using the structured form. Suitable enquiries receive an invitation to a private, no-charge 20-minute corporate briefing.

Any substantive audit, drafting or retained work follows a separate scope and fee proposal.

Request a Confidential Commercial Assessment

General enquiries

A direct connection.

director@wedefendeu-diaspora.com

Appointments: Monday–Sunday, 10am–10pm UK time, subject to live availability.

For a general enquiry, provide a short overview and mention any known deadline. Please do not send sensitive case papers until document-transfer arrangements have been confirmed. An enquiry does not establish an engagement or extend a deadline.

Equal beforethe law.

The rule of law in practice.

Equal access to work

Hearing the witness

Making an order count

Clarity in your language.

Find help with your case.

ECHR Representation

UK Civil Representation

UK Employment Representation

General Legal Advice

Challenging a public decision?

Planning across borders.

Cross-border tax planning

Wealth management legal support

Book your individual consultation.

Sandor-Laszlo Pal

A structured approachto complex matters.

Define the question.Make the next step reviewable.

Evidence before assumptions.

A practical scope.

Clear responsibilities.

European civil rights& diaspora support.

Commercial disputes& arbitration.

Your rights matter.So does your next step.

Clarity in your language.

A voice for the issuesthat shape your life.

Clarity begins with a conversation.

Different circumstances.Focused legal attention.

ECHR Representation

UK Civil Representation

UK Employment Representation

General Legal Advice

Judicial Review & Public Law

Cross-Border Tax Planning

Wealth Management Legal Support

When the decision is urgent.

Consider a route to agreement.

From your first questionto an informed next step.

Choose your consultation

Bring the essentials

Agree what follows

Make your hour count.

You do not have to work outthe route alone.

Individuals

Businesses

Law firms

Clarity in your language.

Your time.Reserved for you.

One hour. Your questions.Our full attention.

The right consultation.

Wherever you are.

Make the hour count.

Before we speak.

Start in the right place.

Book a consultation.

Request an assessment.

A direct connection.

Equal before
the law.

A structured approach
to complex matters.

Define the question.
Make the next step reviewable.

European civil rights
& diaspora support.

Commercial disputes
& arbitration.

Your rights matter.
So does your next step.

A voice for the issues
that shape your life.

Different circumstances.
Focused legal attention.

From your first question
to an informed next step.

You do not have to work out
the route alone.

Your time.
Reserved for you.

One hour. Your questions.
Our full attention.